Chicken broccoli casserole is a casserole dish made by baking together cooked chicken breasts and broccoli florets along with various other ingredients like condensed cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, cheese and breadcrumbs. Served as a main or side dish, this dish can be prepared as numerous variations by using ingredients like rice, pasta, mushrooms, and additional flavoring agents and spices. It may be served as a main or side dish.
Ingredients and Preparation
The broccoli chicken recipe suggests use of chicken breast halves, broccoli florets, condensed cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, cheese such as Cheddar or Parmesan, butter and bread crumbs for preparing the dish. Other ingredients commonly included are dry stuffing mix, cream of chicken soup, bread crumbs, cream cheese, sour cream, onion and garlic powder and celery. Rice, noodles or spaghetti is also included in some versions, and Asian variants may chow mien noodles and soy sauce.
The preparation involves cooking the chicken breasts by boiling or pan searing, and steaming the broccoli florets. Chicken breasts may be cut into bite sized pieces or shredded. Chicken, broccoli, soup and mayonnaise mixture, cheese and bread crumbs are layered in the same order in a baking dish and baked till the cheese bubbles.
Serving
Chicken broccoli casserole may be served as a main or side dish, and can be served in the same baking dish in which it is cooked.
Variations
- Asian Chicken Broccoli Casserole: This is made with browned chicken strips, chicken broth, carrots, water chestnuts, garlic, onion, celery and rice. Soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce are used for flavor. Chow mien noodles are also included in some versions.
- Mexican Chicken Broccoli Enchilada Casserole: This consists of tortilla, onions, broccoli, chicken, a spicy sauce and cheese which are layered in the same order in a casserole dish and baked. Chili powder, cumin, pepper and onion and garlic powder are used as spices.
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole: Cooked rice is mixed with other ingredients like chicken, broccoli, mushroom soup and onions and topped with cheese and baked to prepare this dish.
- Chicken Broccoli Pasta Casserole: Pasta such as penne, small tubular pasta or noodle shaped pasta is pre-cooked in boiling salted water and then included as an additional ingredient in this version of the basic dish. A sauce such as a white sauce made with butter, flour, milk and cheese or any other spaghetti sauce also forms a part of such a dish.
- Low Calorie Chicken Broccoli Casserole: This variation is made by use of low calorie ingredients like low fat cheese, mushrooms and skimmed milk.
Nutritional Information
Chicken broccoli casserole is a good source of protein on account of the chicken present in it. Chicken is also a good source of B vitamins like niacin which has cancer-protective properties and B6 which supports energy metabolism. Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, calcium, folic acid and fiber. Cheese present in the dish is also a good source of calcium and protein. A single serving of common variants of the Chicken Broccoli Casserole contains anywhere between 300 to 500 calories.
